Ohio Baptist
Church History
Submitted by
Martha J.
Kounse
One of the oldest churches is Ohio Baptist Church,
located at Union Landing. The church was organized on 2 Oct 1804, with
first services held in different homes. The first church was built of
logs on the riverbank about 1807 and in 1839, they put up the first frame
building. A brick church came about in 1864, but fire destroyed it in
1899. A new church was built that same year with some new additions.
In 1796 the first settlers in this area was the
Luke Kelley family. That year also came the Davissons, Dollarhides, Yinglings,
Fergusons and Gilruths, all which were farmers. Luke Kelley built a mill
on the river for grinding corn in 1799. His son, John, built a horse mill
in 1803, a steam mill in 1819 and a steam saw mill in 1830.
The Ohio Baptist Church helped organize many other
churches in Lawrence County, Ohio and also in Kentucky. They reported
back to the Mother Church every three months. This church, thought to
be the oldest in Ohio, is six miles west of Ironton, Ohio.
The 150th anniversary of Ohio Baptist was observed
back in 1954, when former minister, Clarence E. Corn, was affiliated with
said church. A three-day observance was held, and approximately 200 members
and friends attended the affair.
Following is a list of the Former Pastors:
 | Elder Jackson, who organized the church in 1804
|
| Robert Scott, first pastor who came here in
1789
|
| Rev. Monroe
|
| John Lee
|
| John Young
|
| John Kelley
|
| William Fuson
|
| A.H. Adams
|
| W. Allington
|
| Rev. Leonard
|
| John Bennett in 1860
|
| Rev. Dr. Gates, 1860
|
| Watson Clark, 1863
|
| F. Stanley, 1866
|
| John Bennett, 1868
|
| D. Strickler, 1870
|
| John Wright, 1873
|
| J.B. Tracy, 1875
|
| John Bennett, again
|
| G.J. Justice, 1883
|
| James M. Kelley, 1884
|
| L.P. Bradshaw, 1887
|
| T.F. Carey, 1889
|
| J.B. Tracy, 1893
|
| W.S. Bradshaw, 1894
|
| A.J. Clere, 1905
|
| R.L. Davis, 1908
|
| T.F. Carey, 1915
|
| Kenneth Riggs, 1921
|
| R. Nicely, 1922
|
| Freeman Chase, 1922
|
| T.F. Carey, 1928
|
| L.C. Hanshaw, 1934
|
| B.F. Caudill, 1940
|
| Clarence E. Corn, 1940
|
| Carl Morris
|
| Paul Miller |
|
